The Labour party will have open shortlists for both Weaver Vale and Wirral West.

The party is looking for a candidate for Wirral West, which is widely expected to fall to the Conservatives, after Stephen Hesford said he was quitting for "family reasons".

And Weaver Vale is being vacated by Mike Hall, who is standing down for health reasons.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "With the General Election approaching, the NEC agreed unanimously to set up a panel of NEC members that will oversee selections.

"Today the panel resolved that both Weaver Vale and Wirral West will select candidates from an open shortlist."